Professor Brendan Drumm, CEO of the Health Service Executive (HSE), has invited the Health Information and Quality Authority to independently investigate the circumstances relating to the care it provided to Ms. Rebecca O’Malley. 

The HSE has requested that the Authority, which is an independent body established to help improve quality and safety in health and social care services, investigate how the error in Ms O’Malley’s diagnosis occurred, how the HSE responded when it became aware of concerns in relation to Ms O’Malley’s care and how similar errors can be prevented in the future.

"While the HSE, like health care systems across the world, seeks to take every possible course of action to minimise the risks for patients, unfortunately errors do occur. I want to again apologise to Ms O'Malley for the error in relation to her diagnosis,” Professor Brendan Drumm said.

"After reviewing the sequence of events relating to Ms O'Malley's care, an independent investigation is a sensible course of action.

“This investigation will enable the HSE learn from how it responded to Ms O’Malley with a view to improving future services to patients.

"The best way to establish an impartial perspective on the events is for the Authority to carry out an independent investigation,” he said.

Patients who attended the Cork University Hospital for a fine needle aspiration breast cytology and who may wish to seek advice and reassurance should contact 1800 742 800.

Women who attended the Midwestern Regional Hospital who may be concerned should contact the breast clinic Limerick between 9:30am and 5pm at 061-482796.

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